Orthodontic bracket



Feb. 6, 1945. J. E. LASKIN 2,368,851

ORTHODONTIC BRACKET Filed April 24, 194::

INVEN TOR.

LASK/N C ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1945 2,368,851 oR'rnonoN'r oBimoKET I Jacob E. Shaker Heights, Ohio Application April .24, 1943, Serial No. 484,334

10 Claims. (01. sz iil This invention relates broadly to orthodontic appliances and more specifically to improvements in arch bar supporting brackets.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro vide a bracket supi Orting structure which is designed to accommodate rotational adjustment of the connecting element for the purpose of alignment of the arch bar supported therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket embodying a clamping element which is adapted to support an arch bar in spring pressed engagement therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which is adapted to facilitate the imposition of tensive strains upon the arch 'bar for the purpose of moving selected teeth of theldenta'l arch without the use of ligatures heretofore employed for such office.

Other obiectsof the invention reside in provision of abracket which is neat o'f appearance, convenient and efiectuous of operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages more or less "an cillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description, which considered in connection'with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

' Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dental arch illustrating the improved bracket in assembled relation with an arch bar; 7

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view 'of certain teeth of the dental arch showing the manner of atta'chment of the arch bar and bracket;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfront elevational view of one of the brackets illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the bracket illustrated in Fig. 3, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. '5 is a front elevational view of the clamping element embodied in the improved bracket illustrating an arch bar in locked position therein;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the clamping element illustrating the position of the parts thereof when the clamp is actuated to effect the release of the arch bar;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of the block; and

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a fragmentary portion of an arch bar configured for engagement within the block illustrated in Fig. '7.

Referring first to Figs. 3 and 4, the bracket comprises a block l formed with a frustro conical base I l engaged within a retainer or cup 12 soldered or otherwise-affixedto a tooth band l3 of customary form. The upper face of the block is formed with a rectangular .boss l4 partially separated from the base by a kerf 15. The over hanging portion of the boss is machined with a slot l6 defining a pair of arms I! which in turn are machined with a transverse slot 18, in the edges at the outer ends ofthe slot being spaced to form an opening less in width than the arch bar IS. The Webs '2] constituting the center por-. tions of the arms I! are formed with slots 22 in the outer edge thereof which are configured to control the direction of .rnovement of the arms upon application of pressure on the outer faces thereof. The block is further machined with a second kerf '23 aligned with the. slot IB and ex tended diametrically through the major portion of the block to provide base furcations 24. The cup I2 is formed from material which,may be readily spun or swaged into intimate engagementwith the conical base H, such assembly being effected While the furcatio'ns thereof are sprung towards each other in order to secure the frictional engagement of the conical base I 'l with the sidewalls 'of the cup 12. The kerf '23 is of a suitable width to accommodate further movement of the base furcations Within the cup after assembly thereof so that the frictional engagement between the base and the cup may be relieved under the application of compressive effort upon the walls '25-of the boss H. The block is formed from a material possessing sufficient inherent resiliency to maintain the block in spring locked engagement within the cup 12 and also effect the support of the arch bar I9 in spring locked engagement within the slot 18 when the arms lf'l are sprung for the reception thereof.

In operation the block I0 is first adjusted for alignment of the slot l8 with the arch bar, such adjustment being effected by placing the jaws of a pair of pliers, forceps or similar instrument over the parallel walls 25 of the boss L4 and simultaneously compressing and rotating the block until the slot I8 is disposed in parallel relation with the arch bar. The pliers may then be en- .It will be readily recognized that the improved bracket will-facilitate the ready assembly of the arch bar within the bracket without the use of special tools or instruments, that the bracket may be swiveled to impose tensive'or compressive strains upon the bar to produce tractive effort therethrough, that the appliance will reduce the use of ligatures heretofore employed to secure the bar within the bracket and that the block clamping element will facilitate adjustments which could only be accomplished heretofore by the. removal of the bar from the denture.

Although the foregoing description is necesable arms on said block having grooves therein for the reception of an arch bar, the outer edges of said grooves being less in width than the width of the arch bar when said arms are in their unstressed form.

5. In an orthodontic appliance embodyi g an arch bar and "a tooth band, a bracket for the connection of the bar to the band comprising a. cup afiixed to said band, a block mounted for rotative movement in the cup," said block having a kerf therein defining furcations compressively engaged with said cup, said block having a second kerf therein parallel to the base of the block and a vertical slot defining a pair of arms, said arms having grooves therein for the reception of the arch bar, said grooves being sarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is' to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to Without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. An orthodontic bracket for the retention of an arch ,bar comprising a cup, a block mounted for rotational movement therein, spring pressed means in said block to restrain the rotation of said block in said cup, and spring means in said block for clamping an arch bar in the block.

2. Anorthodontic bracket for the support of an arch bar comprising a conical cup, a block, a split conical base thereon seated in spring pressed engagement in said cup, arms on said block having grooves therein for the reception of an arch bar, said arms being yieldably deformable for spring pressed engagement with an 7 arch bar.

3. An orthodontic bracket for the support of an arch bar comprising a cup, a block mounted therein for rotative movement relative thereto, spring means in said block for the retention of the block in frictional engagement with the cup configured for the spring pressure retention of the arch bar when the arm are sprung together.

6. Anorthodontic bracket comprising a block, a spring clamp thereon for the retention of an arch bar, a cup for the support of said block and a second spring clamp in said block for the retention of said block against rotative movement in said cup.

7. An orthodontic bracket for the support of an arch bar comprising a retainer, a block mounted for rotational movement therein, spring means in said block to restrain the rotation thereof in said retainer, arms on said block having grooves therein for the retention of an arch bar, the walls defining said grooves being formed in complemental configuration to the transverse section ,of an arch bar.

8. An orthodontic appliance comprising a retainer, a rotatable block therein, means in said block to restrain rotation thereof and means on said block operable independent the rotational movement of the block for the retention of an arch wire.

9. An orthodontic arch bar bracket comprising a cup, a block mounted for rotation therein, expansible and retractable elements in said block to restrain the rotation thereof, yieldable arms on said block having grooves therein for the reception of an arch bar, the walls defining said grooves being tapered vertically and longitudinally.

' 10. An orthodontic bracket for-the support of an arch bar, comprising a circular cup, a block swiveled therein, said block having a kerf extended partially therethrough forming a pair of semi-circular yieldable base sections, said sections being formed fOr frictional engagement with said cup, a pair of arms On said block having grooves therein, said arms being yieldable independent of said base sections, the walls defining said grooves being formed for the retention of an arch bar upon deformation of the arms.

JACOB E. LASKIN. 

